Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups For Fantasy Baseball - Week 17

July 16, 2023

Kevin Hickey's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for outfielders and Week 17 of the 2023 MLB season. Consider adding and streaming these free agent hitters.

This article will discuss fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 17 -- July 17 through July 23. Whether your team is derailed by injuries or you’re simply ready to give up on your draft day darlings, navigating the waiver wire will be crucial to finding long-term success in fantasy baseball. 

As we move through the season, trends fluctuate, and we must learn to react on the fly. When it comes to hot streaks, you have to act fast, or you may miss out. This set of outfield-eligible players may not all have the longest track records, or their success could be considered unsustainable. However, you have to take risks early in the season in order to uncover your breakout stars. It will already be too late if you wait until these names are established. 

Names listed are in order of roster percentage, not confidence ranking. Position eligibility and roster percentage are based on Yahoo!, so check your leagues for availability! 

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Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues

Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis Cardinals - 46% Rostered

Lars Nootbaar encountered a bit of a rough patch but has picked things up again lately. He's now hit safely in eight consecutive contests and has recorded a base hit in 10 of 11 appearances since July began. Overall, Nootbaar sports a respectable .262/.360/.398 slash line with six home runs across 61 games played. His power numbers aren't likely to elevate much, but he consistently works his way on base and will continue to get opportunities near the top of a Cardinals batting order starved for left-handed production. 

There's nothing about Nootbaar's batted-ball profile that indicates he does anything exceptionally well. Instead, he's above average in just about every way. That includes a strong .348 xwOBA, 42.2% hard-hit rate, .263 xBA, and 90 mph average exit velocity. Nootbaar's elite 17.1% chase rate and 13.6% walk rate illustrate the reason for his success. He has outstanding plate discipline and picks his moments well. That's generally indicative of a sustainable approach.

Tommy Pham, New York Mets - 34% Rostered

Tommy Pham's ownership has failed to maintain a consistent trajectory. After being one of the trendier fantasy pickups of early July, his ownership has once again tumbled over the All-Star break. It appears people aren't keen to commit to the 35-year-old when he posts a couple of hitless performances. Still, there's plenty to like about Pham. He owns a strong .271/.345/.476 slash line with nine home runs and 10 stolen bases.

Though his fair-weather ownership doesn't reflect it, Pham's success this season appears sustainable. In fact, he's hitting the ball a lot better than his already productive slash line tells us. Pham sports a phenomenal .523 xSLG, .298 xBA, .388 xwOBA, 93.3 mph average exit velocity, 48.4% hard-hit rate, and 13% barrel rate. He could be in store for a massive second half.

Nolan Jones, Colorado Rockies - 27% Rostered

A revelation for the Rockies, Nolan Jones continues to rake since his late-May call-up. He's slashing .293/.379/.504 with six home runs and five doubles over 38 games this season. Jones has established himself as a middle-of-the-order fixture in Colorado's lineup, and it's unlikely that changes the rest of the way. His advanced metrics indicate some regression may be on the way, but Jones also has the benefit of calling Coors Field home. That's not something to overlook. 

Even if he is overperforming somewhat, Jones' underlying numbers still look good. He carries a .478 xSLG, 91.1 mph average exit velocity, .355 xwOBA, and 11.7% barrel rate. There's enough evidence that Jones can continue being a prominent producer for the Rockies.

Mickey Moniak, Los Angeles Angels - 23% Rostered

Mickey Moniak's first-half role with the Angels came with the caveat of uncertain playing time. Now with Trout and Adell and several other Angels on the injured list, Moniak is an everyday player. He's even drawing starts against southpaws at this point because he's one of the few consistent offensive producers the Angels have. Moniak carries an astonishing .319/.348/.644 slash line with 10 home runs through 39 games this season. With playing concerns out of the picture, he deserves to be on more rosters.

The underlying numbers suggest Moniak won't continue to be a .300 hitter, but he should remain a worthwhile producer on offense. Moniak carries an outstanding .526 xSLG and a 15.6% barrel rate. He also benefits from playing at Angel Stadium, which strongly favors left-handed power, further bolstering his upside.

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues

Joey Gallo, Minnesota Twins - 10% Rostered

If you're seeking access to more home runs, then look to Joey Gallo as a guy who is most likely available in your league. He sports a lopsided .189/.303/.478 slash line with 16 home runs. His track record is long enough for us to comprehend that Gallo isn't going to hit for average. Considering 24 of his 38 hits are for extra bases, he is as boom-or-bust as it goes at the plate. When he's booming, the returns are fantastic.

Gallo partially compensates for his inconsistent approach at the plate with a fantastic 13.2% walk rate. He also struggles to put the ball in play with any consistency, as evidenced by a horrendous 43.5% whiff rate. Yet, when Gallo does make contact, the results are outstanding. He carries a 21.9% barrel rate, 93.5 mph average exit velocity, and a 58.1% hard-hit rate. It's probably best to view Gallo as a rental fantasy asset, though he's undoubtedly capable of giving your lineup a major boost.

Jesus Sanchez, Miami Marlins - 4% Rostered

Jesus Sanchez has been featured several times in this article over the past couple of months. He's routinely underperformed his advanced metrics, but he's catching fire again lately. Sanchez has hit safely in eight of his past nine starts, recording three multi-hit games and three home runs during that span. Overall, he's up to a .262/.320/.487 slash line with nine home runs. The consistency has not been there. Given his upside, Sanchez is among the most undervalued outfield fantasy assets.

As a jumping-off point, Sanchez sports a deadly .283 xBA and .515 xSLG combo. That includes a .367 xwOBA, 49.3% hard-hit rate, 13.4% barrel rate, and 91.3 mph average exit velocity. He strikes out at a gratuitous 26.3% rate, but his batting profile is otherwise strong. Sanchez may be on the verge of a hot streak. If he takes off, don't anticipate seeing him remain in single-digit ownership.

Kerry Carpenter, Detroit Tigers - 3% Rostered

The final highlight this week is Kerry Carpenter. He's slashing .263/.318/.500 with a 125 wRC+ and nine home runs through 48 games this season. Carpenter does sometimes suffer from a platoon situation against left-handed pitching, though that has not excluded him completely against southpaws. 

Looking under the hood, Carpenter's advanced numbers suggest he can be a reliable producer. He carries a .482 xSLG, 45.6% hard-hit rate, 91 mph average exit velocity, 12.3% barrel rate, and .345 xwOBA. Carpenter showcased exemplary power during his minor-league days, and there's likely another level to his game yet to be unlocked at the MLB level.

More Players To Consider

• Bryan De La Cruz, Marlins - 43% rostered
• Harrison Bader, Yankees - 37% rostered
• Eddie Rosario, Braves - 34% rostered
• Adam Duvall, Red Sox - 25% rostered
• Corey Julks, Astros - 19% rostered
• Will Benson, Reds - 12% rostered

More Deep-League Players To Consider

• Mike Yastrzemski, Giants - 10% rostered
• Matt Vierling, Tigers - 7% rostered
• Oscar Colas, White Sox - 6% rostered
• Chas McCormick, Astros - 5% rostered
• Travis Jankowski, Rangers - 3% rostered

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